Come on - surely we know more than anyone that league position means nothing.

That also happened in 2006 under the messiah Tony Smith, the only time in the last 11 attempts that we didn't even get to within 80 mins of Old Trafford, we also put in a disappointing Cup showing and exit to Hudds then too and they along with Wire (playoff exit) were nowhere near as strong contenders at that time.........we then reached and won 5 of the next 6 GF's, reached 3 CC finals, won 2 WCC and 1 LLS.

The scary thing is Last Son of Wigan is right, this is our decline, this is our transitional period, the next year or two will be tough to replace some top class talent, some Leeds legends will be retiring but we have comfortably the best back 5 in the league going in to next year, Hardaker, Hall, Moon, Watkins, Briscoe has the potential to be as good as any in the professional era and that is a back line that can stick together for 5/6 years at least.

We have 3 proven winners at halfback with a fantastic, very young, exciting talent coming through in Sutcliffe, We have a very good back row with Ablett, JJB and Delany, with Stevie Ward being an absolute top class back row prospect

In my opinion we are two props (of which Singleton should be one) and a hooker away from our 2nd dynasty and there is still trophies in the ‘golden generation’, especially with the quality of youngsters we have.

This being our decline shouldn’t be a cause for celebration for our rivals, it should scare them.

I thought our decline and transition was when we lost Senior, Donald, Toopi and Bai, and went from the oldest set of backs in the league to the youngest?

If Wigan were on the rise, they would have kept hold of their best players (Mossop, Richards, Tomkins) and wouldn't be shopping in the novelty isle with the signing of Powell.

Wigan will drop like a stone next season

So going from 1st on a meaningless ladder to 4th on a meaningless ladder while winning the secondary major trophy along the way and at least making the final in the major event is =#0000FFsomehow now indicative of a team in greater decline than one improving from a unrepresentative 5th on a meaningless ladder to 3rd on a meaningless ladder while not making either final?

It's OK I know you're only jesting.



Losing major player's again needn't be an issue if you're prepared to be pro-active and if necessary enter the market place to plug those gaps with quality who could (as happened this season) go on to pick up the Lance Todd Trophy, make the SL Dream Team and put in a match winning contribution V the reigning SL Champions in a play-off semi-final decider ..... despite some on here claiming such replacement to be a major downgrade.

Could we really be so spoiled as to expect Leeds to win the title 3 times in a row again? Not even the "great" Saints team of 2006 could back up.
Part of it is that some feel that our last two years achievements have been trashed due to the playoff system and a 5th place finish during the regular season. I'm usually not bothered by what others think, generally because the people that make the most noise are those with the most bias and self interest. I'm pretty sure that the majority of people in the game that matter have a great respect and admiration for what our club has achieved - they just don't need to shout off about it. We shouldn't believe that internet trolls or the paid Sky mouthpieces are the voice of rugby league.

As hard as it is sometimes we really should flick the collective chips from our shoulders when it comes to other clubs and their "rich history of success". If we were back in 1985 on an internet board then Huddersfilelds great team of the 50's would be as relevent as what some were about to achieve, just like I never took any real comfort from Leeds domination of the late 60's and early 70's, it's simply rediculous. Do South Sydney fans brag about being the greatest ever team in Australian rugby history? They would be a laughable as someone (probably not even born) cacking on about what their club did 30 years ago in any context. In fact, this is probably more effort than I should have bothered with as it is.

Completely agree. As it rolled into the play offs, the signs were good that we could go all the way again, but the idea of doing it 3 years in a row again, made it seem remote, even with this outstanding group of players. Having had a sobering couple of weeks the club has ended up coming just short. Its regrettable, but its not a major problem. Realistically, we are in decline, but thats because we have been at the top for so long. There is only 1 way to go. Its the measure of how steep the decline is that matters. Next years I'd expect us to be fighting for the top 4 again, and could well do some damage in the cup, in fact given us not finishing as strong this year the cup could be ideally suited for us to peak for, especially if we get a walkover draw like Wigan did this year

From the end of last season to the start of this your messageboard was in relative meltdown. Only you took SL seriously, everyone else messed about until the play-offs, you couldn't keep your class players, you were recruiting mediocre players, your half backs were crap, your pack inexperienced & lightweight, your coach was arrogant & ignorant, you were totally dismayed with your club & RL, you weren't going to bother with season tickets for the first time in 159 years. It started again when you lost your lead in the table. Obviously I exclude you from any of those views.

Given the lack of quality teams outside the top 4 or 5 in SL you'd certainly hope so.

Leeds have had their own version of walkover draws themselves enabling them to get to Wembley but the hoodoo remains in place when it comes to winning it - not something Wigan suffer from. Wasn't the early exit from the Challenge Cup going to improve Leeds' chances this season for the Play-Offs? Don't really see much benefit going to accrue in July and August 2014 just because we've ended our season on a low point eight days earlier than what has become pretty much the norm.

What has this got to do with my comment about Leeds being on the decline?

That's not a Wigan issue, it's a SL issue. Wigan produce the highest amount of quality through their syste, so they'll lose more to the NRL or Union. It's more a reflection of the differences between the NRL and SL.

Clearly losing past players hasn't affected us, we're the CC champs and in the GF.

Means nothing with regard to my comment, if anything it supports it. Wigan are in another final.

When going for the title Wigan came either first or second. This season 2013 we did come fourth, but you forgot to add CC winners and in the GF at the end.

It completely baffles me why anyone on here should waste their time responding to a numpty from another forum.
Just ignore him & he'll go away.

Don't be so immature and insulting. This is a place to discuss rugby and that's exactly what I'm doing. Grow up and talk rugby not soft personal insults.

Absolutely nothing. I presume, however, you do not read the content of your own messages.

True, but it is a Wigan fan and the subject matter has become a Wigan and Leeds richard-measuring contest which will always appeal to those who remain psychologically damaged by the Wigan glory years immediately preceding the SL era.

Cheap cheap insult. Stick to rugby. PS Wigan being in the final and winning the CC is about as up-to-date as you can get.

Absolutely nothing. Ok, well done for a post with no relevance, by your own admission.

Can some one please close this thread and remove this tO##ser, typical trash posted from a Weeeeegan supporter, I doubt he will be back bleating on Saturday night . Truly boring boring boring

At least the last time you hicks came out with statements like that was after the 2010 GF you were goint to win it again and again and again and again?ah well we haven't. From Hickville trolls for awhile,3 years.Cheated any good salary caps lately?
Even if you win on Saturday Leeds will still be the only club to win SL and not cheated the salary cap.
Last son of Wigan? What happened the others?

Come on William

Wow, I really hope you're not acting as a representive of Leeds Rhinos fans. Hicks? Hickville? Racist comments are NEVER welcome, your manner is a disgrace, grow up and keep such childish comments to yourself.

I wouldn't even entertain the idea of responding to the rest of your comments. Disgrace.

Trash? Really? If I came on here randoming calling posters names etc you'd have a point, instead I've come on here discussing a signing (Briscoe) and a discussion of how Leeds are in decline, both of which are rugby topics on a rugby forum.

Seriously, if you can't discuss rugby then pipe down.